Sanitary cover for beverage cans



April 17, 1962 Filed April 14, 1960 Paul a Bum/ref! INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,029,973 7 SANITARY COVER FOR BEVERAGE CANS Paul C. Burchett, Box 779, Pawhuska, Okla. Filed Apr. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 22,357

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-40) The'present invention relates, broadly construed, to food and commodity containing and marketing cans but has reference, more particularly, to beverage cans, especially readily puncturable tin and aluminum beer cans.

The ordinary or conventional beer can is uniformly cylindrical in cross section from top to bottom. It is realized, of course, that some manufacturers distribute beer in a can having a cylindrical body and a truncated conical top portion with a beaded lip for a readily applicable and removable crown cap.

It will simplify an approach to an understanding of the subject matter of the invention here to confine the disclosure to the first-named cylindrical type can and to keep in mind the fact that, in carrying the principles of the instant invention, a limited upper portion of the conventional can is very gradually reduced in cross-section and, very broadly speaking, is comparable to a truncated can-top.

An object of the invention is to utilize this type of a can construction but, more particularly, to appropriate and utilize a readily applicable and removable cap-like protective cover; primarily, of course, for the modified cylindrical-type can.

It has become increasingly noticeable that whereas, some years ago, drinking direct from a beer can was a practice frowned upon, it is almost universal these days and is apparently acceptable from the standpoint of manners and etiquette. On the other hand, it is likewise well known that with this seemingly acceptable practice in vogue, this applicant is not the only one who objects to the practice. From the standpoint of sanitation and health even those who follow the practice know that it is unwise and improper. As a matter of fact, others working in this line of endeavor have sought to enable the purchaser who drinks from the can to better handle the situation. However, it is not too much a matter of importance to dwell or even touch upon the state of the art for it is an object of the present endeavor to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon protective covers for containers; for example, the covering device as seen in the Burns Patent 2,731,999 of January 24, 1956 and, in so doing, to attempt to meet the manufacturing and other economy requirements of manufacturers, the expected desires of retailers, and the every day needs of would-be users.

In carrying out an acceptably practical aspect of the invention only nominal changes in the conventional can will be necessary. To this end, an approximate onethird of the can (say the upper third) is very gradually reduced in cross-section and the nominally truncated apical end thereof embodies the usual puncturable disklike top and circumscribing bead. This improved canend construction provides an ideal adaptation for an inverted cup-like protective cap which is here provided. The cap may be of a suitable grade of colorful commercial plastics, extremely light in weight but durable. This cap is fitted over the tapering or truncated portion of the can.

Novelty is also predicated on the features touched upon and, in addition, has to do with feasible fastening means for the cover; namely, bayonet slot and pin connecting means.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative, but not restrictive, drawing.

form.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a beer can constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention illustrating, of course, the cap-like removable cover in its normal but ready-to-use position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective with portions broken away and which serves to illustrate the cooperating features of the upper part of the can and the applicable and removable cover;

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a section, also fragmentary, taken on the section line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

With reference to the figures of the accompanying illustrative drawing, reference may be had in particular to FIG. 2 wherein the numeral 6 designates a beer can (or any equivalent beverage or commodity can wherein the idea of maintaining a sanitary end is desirable). The lower two-thirds of the can may be said to be conventional, the same being denoted at 8. In addition, the bottom or base 9 is conventional. The puncturable disklike top 10 is conventional except that it is of slightly decreased diameter. In addition, this top is secured in place by rolled interlocked edges forming a ring-like lip or bead 12. Because the top thus used is ofdecreascd diameter, the upper third of the can body is gradually reduced in cross-section but is circular in cross-section. This tapering portion is denoted at 14 and the junctional shoulder at 16. Despite the fact that the taper is gradual it is believed that it is nevertheless proper to refer to the thus modified end of the can as of truncated conical Diametrically opposite bayonet slots are formed as at 18 by indenting the can. The vertical open top branch is denoted at 19 and the lateral foot or toe portion at 20. This upper-end-can-construction serves to accommodate the readily applicable and removable plastic or equivalent protective cup-like cap 22. Although this cap is not intended to be used as a drinking cup it is within the purview of the concept to use it as such, as is sometimes done with similar cup-like caps used on thermal bottles and the like. This disk-like portion 24 here is approximately of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the body 8 of the can. This is also true of the outside diameter of the skirt or rim of the cover. The upper thick portion is denoted at 26 and the thin featheredge lower portion is denoted at 28 and this, of course, cooperates with the shoulder 16 or base of the tapering neck 14- to provide the intended and desired intimate association of parts. This rim (sometimes referred to as a skirt) is also provided interiorly with diametrically opposite studs or assembling and fastening pins 30 which are such in length and cross-section to mate properly with the component portions 19 and 20 of their respective bayonet slots. Thus, the connection between the skirt or rim of the cover and the tapering neckis described, properly it is believed, as bayonet slot and pin joints or connections.

So many hands come into contact with beer cans from the time of packaging to the time of use that the openable top of the can is usually dirty and laden with dust. While it is the practice of some people to wipe the canends before use or perhaps even to wash the cans, it is believed that by and large the majority of users do not take pains in promoting sanitation. But since sanitary practices are being more and more stressed these days, it will be evident that an advertising campaign of considerable import and impact can be resorted to in extolling the benefits and featured advantages of a beer can having a truncated upper end or neck, an inverted caplike cup or cover, and quick separable fastening means between the component parts, The use of bayonet slots Patented Apr. 17, 1962 and pins for connecting means is an ideal solution of the problem since cans can be made with the indentations seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The variously colored and finished protective caps 22 can be moldedtseparately utilizing an acceptable grade of commercial plastic in so doing.

It is submitted that the concept herein revealed involves not only an advance in the art but, assuming the invention isto be manufactured and sold, it constitutes an innovation capable of achieving new and improved results.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readly occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A beer can assembly including a rigid cylindrical flat bottomed body portion having a reduced frusto-conical upper end portion having a circular side wall converging in an upward direction with a flat intact but puncturable circular top connected to the top of said conical upper end portion by an encircling bead of slightly less external diameter than the external diameter of said cylindrical portion, a readily applicable and removable dust-proofing plastic cap hooded over the entire conical upper portion and detachably mounted thereon, said cap having an external diameter equal to the external diameter 7 of said cylindrical body portion and the side wall thereof decreasing in thickness in a downward direction so that the lower edge of the cap is relatively sharp, the upper ends of the side wall of said cap being rigidly connected to a circular flat top porton, said top portion merging with said side wall so as to form an annular inner corner within the cap, said bead being telescopically received within and contacting said corner so as to reinforce said cap and frictionally retain said cap on said conical upper portion of the can, other releasablesecuring means provided between said conical. portion, and said cap- 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said additional securing means includes a radially inwardly extending projection formed on the inside of said cap and an L-shaped groove formed in said conical portion for releasably receiving said projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 87,415 Livingston Mar. 2, 1869 287,785 White Oct. 30, 1883 1,280,700 Fouche Oct. 8, 1918 1,525,567 Cadby Feb. 10, 1925 2,058,468 Korwan Oct. 27, 1936 2,337,616 McManns et a1. Dec. 28, 1943 2,533,934 Henchert Dec. 12, 1950 2,775,372 Jordan Dec. 25, 1956 2,913,140 Vuillemenot NOV. 17, 1959 

